From the Open and Affirming Coalition UCC:
Practicing Sacred Storytelling in a World That Tries to Erase Us
In a world of systemic and intersectional injustice that often tears LGBTQIA+ communities down, having confidence in the knowledge of who we are as God’s beloved creations is essential to our survival and flourishing as LGBTQIA+ Christians. As a result, personal storytelling and testimony is a vital spiritual practice of self-care and rootedness that enables us to explore our identity, learn about ourselves in prayerful conversation with God, prepare to engage with an unjust world, and discover ways to thrive and flourish. This session will lay a scriptural, theological, and experiential framework for storytelling as a spiritual practice of self-care and rootedness, provide three opportunities to practice storytelling through creative writing activities, and generate safe space for sharing together.
Tickets are offered on an honor-system sliding scale. Please choose the rate that best fits your circumstances.
• Student Rate – $15 (For students and seminarians.)
• Sages Rate 65+ – $15 (For participants age 65 and older.)
• Standard Rate – $30 (Helps cover the true cost of the workshop.)
• Pay-It-Forward Rate – $45 (For those who are able to give more and help expand access for others.)
We trust you to choose what’s right for you. If the cost is prohibitive, please reach out to us (office@openandaffirming.org)—we do not want finances to be a barrier to participation.
About Our Facilitator: Grant is a PhD: Theology and New Testament candidate, as well as the Assistant Director of Admissions and Recruitment, at Garrett Seminary. An ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church who serves at Urban Village Church: Chicago, Grant and his husband Connor live with their cat-children, Maple and Little Floof. Born in Omaha, NE, Grant holds a BA in English from North Central College, a MA in English from Middlebury College, and a Master of Divinity from Garrett. Between degrees, Grant taught sixth grade elementary on the Rosebud Reservation, worked as an education ranger in Yellowstone, and taught eighth grade Reading/Language Arts at the Chicago Jesuit Academy.